The reaction of Δ2-oxazolin-5-ones 1a and 1b with nickel peroxide in benzene produces the corresponding 4, 4-dehydrodimers 5a and 5b as the main products in yields over 75%. Under the same conditions, the 2-aryl-4-methyl-Δ2-oxazolin-5-ones 1c, 1d and 1e yield five products. In the case of 1c, the constituents of the product mixture were separated and identified as two 4, 4-dehydrodimers (meso and d] pair isomers) 5c and 5c',(40.7%), 2, 4- ...